The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-09-08
CARE OF PASTURES.

As rule, in this country pastures re-
ceive little or no care. No crop gets less
attention, yet none would respond more
quickly to good care. Much attention
has been given to premium crops OF corn,
wheat, potatoes, the improvement OF
horses, cattle, sheep and swine; even
poultry are encouraged by liberal pre-
miums; but we seldom hear of premium
crop of grass. 1t seems practicable to
double the present yield without an out
lay at all corresponding to the increased
value of the crop. Is there any good
reason why farmer should not bestow
as much care in selecting the proper
seeds, and in the after-treatment of mead
owe, as he would in selecting or breeding
and raising a Shorthorn bull calf or Meri-
no lamb?
Grass should not be pastured in very
early spring, before the ground settles
and the sod becomes firm. BY this early
pasturing the tops are kept closely cut
of, the roots are injured, from which the
grass does not recover for the whole year
10 gain and thrive. the grass needs some
green leaves as much as a horse needs
fresh air and stomach TO digest hber-
al allowance of food. If cut frequently
and kept short, like the grasses of the
1uNAA. NIiC IOotb WILL IOI Uidht tLt SIlDG
size and extent of growth as when the
stalks and leaves have free development.
The roots depend as much on the leaves
as the latter do on the roots. Pastures
should not be allowed to grow very long
in the spring without feeding, as the
culms run up and blossom and make a
growth distasteful to all kinds OF stock
BY movable fences or otherwise, it is a
good plan to feed off a piece rather close
~, let 1T get a start, and then feed off
again evenly.
In large pastures, animals are likely to
pick some places closely and leave others
to run to seed. A mixture of animals, or
one kind of animal following another, will
keep pastures more evenly fed than will
one kind alone. To prevent patches from
going to seed NOW them, small quantity
at time, and when the grass Is wilted it
will generally be eaten by the stock. In
such places, fresh bite, very agreeable
to cattle and sheep, will often start up.
Pastures and meadows are very frequent
ly eaten close to the ground late in au-
tumn, especially if the season be a dry
one. This is a severe drain on the vital
ty of the plants and causes them to be a
long time starting in the following spring.
Joseph Harris says: "On an old timothy
meadow, closely pastured last fall, this
year the hay was not over half a ton to
the acre. On another meadow not so
closely pastured, the grass was thick and
heavy as it could grow" Some fall
growth is necessary to give the plant
strength for good start in the spring.
When the pasture is thin or unproducive,
harrow the surface and SOW on other kinds
of grasses and clovers, with top-dress-
ing of some fertilizer. This serves to
| some extent as a rotation of crops for the
soil. If the cattle are fed oilmeal or some
| rich food, most of it goes to fertilize the
land. Bare knobs will be improved by a
very thin mulch of straw put on early in
winter after the ground is frozen. A
light fne-tooth harrow will work the ma
nure out of the way. 1t helps to cover
the small seeds. Scatter the droppings
Of cattle so that no offensive punches OF
| tall grass may grow around them. 1t is
| practice at the North to allow part OF
| the pasture to grow large for late fall
| feeding. For feeding late in autumn and
early spring at the North, rye is excellent
| to piece out or save the common pasture.
Prof. W. j. Beal, in Grasses Of North
America"